The LP Lindenberg (also 1971, and sung in English, already with Steffi Stephan on bass) was likewise unsuccessful. In the following year, the fist LP in German was released: Daumen im Wind (produced by Lindenberg and Thomas Kukuck, who also produced the next five albums together), from which the single "Hoch im Norden" became a radio hit in northern Germany. The year 1973 brought a breakthrough with the album Andrea Doria and its catchy "Alles klar auf der Andrea Doria" and "Cello". Over 100,000 copies sold, and Lindenberg quickly received the largest record deal of any German-language musician up to that time. Lindenberg was earning a special place in the new German-language music of the 70s: Between internationally-oriented Krautrock and pop music, he found his niche. German-language rock had previously been confined to predominantly political message bands whose music was directed at a narrow audience.
Lindenbergs brash style, everyday subject matter ("Bei Onkel Pö…") and his feel for language were an unprecedented combination in German-language music. His pioneering work helped other artists such as Stefan Waggershausen and Marius Müller-Westernhagen get record deals of their own. In 1973 Lindenberg first went on tour with his Panikorchester (Panic Orchestra).
1976 was one of Udo Lindenberg's most productive years. Besides the LP Galaxo Gang he also published under the name Das Waldemar Wunderbar Syndicat I make you feel good, a first Best of Panik Udo and the first in a series of foreign-language publications No Panic, on which Lindenberg translated his songs to English. In the same year (and on another LP: Sister King Kong) with the song "Rock ’n’ Roll Arena in Jena", Lindenberg first mentioned a Panic Orchestra tour in the GDR. In 1976, Lindenberg discovered Ulla Meinecke and produced her first two albums. She was a guest artist and co-author of the 1977 LP Panische Nächte (Panic Nights) and the 1978 Dröhnland Symphonie. On Lindenbergs Rock Revue (1978) Lindenberg and Horst Königstein "Germanized" rock classics from Little Richard to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, and went on a big tour. The Nr.-1-Hit "We Gotta Get out of This Place" was also published with German lyrics.
The subsequent Dröhnland-Symphonie-Tour was staged by Peter Zadek as a big multimedia stage show with a plethora of costumed extras. The result was Lindenbergs first live album Livehaftig. In 1979, Der Detektiv was the second Rock Revue, in which more international hits such as "Candle in the Wind" by Elton John, "Born to Be Wild" by Steppenwolf, "My Little Town" and "As Time Goes By" (from the film Casablanca) were "Germanized". Also 1997 was published "Belcanto - Udo Lindenberg & das Deutsche Filmorchester Babelsberg" which included hits like "Horizont", "Bis ans Ende der Welt" along with a song by Bertold Brecht and Udo's own interpretation of The Windmills of Your Mind - "Under the drunkard moon" ("Unterm Säufermond").
One of his most famous songs is Sonderzug nach Pankow (Special train service to Pankow), an adaptation of Chattanooga Choo Choo, released as a single on 2 February 1983. It originated from the refusal of eastern German authorities to allow Lindenberg a concert in the German Democratic Republic (GDR).
On June 3, 2011, Lindenberg performed at Kampnagel unplugged. The recording was later released as an album within the MTV unplugged series. Lindenberg was the 8th German artist in that series. The album became the second No.1 album for Lindenberg declared Platin status for 200,000 sold units after two weeks. The second single from the album "Cello" (feat. Clueso) went No.4 giving Lindenberg the highest chart position in German singles charts ever reached.
Lindenberg has worked collaboratively with various local and international recording artists (Eric Burdon, Helen Schneider, David Bowie, Tom Robinson, Keith Forsey, Gianna Nannini, and Nena) on a number of projects. He currently lives in Hamburg in the Hotel Atlantic (for several years now). His somewhat hoarse voice is the result of too much liquor and cigarettes. In 1989, he survived a heart attack. In 2010, he designed two stamps, themed on his songs "Andrea Doria" and "Sonderzug nach Pankow", for the Deutsche Post.
Verbotene Stadt
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will nich wissen, wo du bist
Ich muss dich vergessen
Auch wenn das Hölle ist
Wir haben uns getroffen
Es war leiden auf den ersten Blick
Ich wusste das darf nich passieren
Sonst gibt es kein zurück
Seitdem bin auf der flucht
Von mir selber so weit weggerannt
Und alles was ich fühle
Hab ich soweit weg verbannt
Verbotene Stadt
Alle Tore sind versperrt und streng bewacht
Die Mauern zehn Meter hoch aus Stein
Seid vielen Jahren
Kam kein Mensch hier rein
Verbotene Stadt
die Paläste träum von vergangener Pracht
Durch leere Straßen weht ein rauer Wind
Ein paar Sehnsüchte die längst vergessen sind
Nimm den Pfeil aus meinem Herzen
Es darf dir nich gehörn
Nimm deinen Mund von meinem Ohr
Will keine süßen Schwüre schwörn
Versuch nich mich zu finden
Ruf mich nich mehr an
Wenn ich
Deine Nummer wähle
Dann bitte geh nich ran
Denn ich bin auf der Flucht
Von mir selber so weit weggerannt
Und alles was ich fühle
Hab ich ganz weit weg verbannt
Verbotene Stadt
Alle Tore sind versperrt und streng bewacht
Die Mauern zehn Meter hoch aus Stein
Seid vielen Jahren
Kam kein Mensch hier rein
Verbotene Stadt
die Paläste träumen von vergangener Pracht
Durch leere Straßen weht ein rauer Wind
Ein paar Sehnsüchte die längst vergessen sind
Und ich
Ich verlier mich in ihrem Labyrinth
In der verbotenen Stadt
Verbotene Stadt
De de di da de.....
Verbotene Stadt
Alle Tore sind versperrt und streng bewacht
Die Mauern zehn Meter hoch aus Stein
Seid vielen Jahren
Kam kein Mensch hier rein
Verbotene Stadt
Hier hab ich auf dich gewartet Tag und Nacht
Nur du kannst mich aus diesem Bann befrein
Reiß die Mauern nieder
Tret die Türen ein
Und ich will bei dir sein
Nie mehr allein
In der verbotenen Stadt
Der verbotenen Stadt
In der verbotenen Stadt
Oh...
In der verbotenen Stadt
The song "Verbotene Stadt" by Udo Lindenberg is a ballad about someone who desperately wants to forget about their forbidden love. The singer is conflicted about their emotions, as they are running away from themselves and everything they feel. The lyrics depict the "Verbotene Stadt" or Forbidden City as a symbol for a safe haven where the person they crave can break down the walls and allow them to break free from their feelings of guilt and pain.
The singer seems to have met someone and fallen in love at first sight, despite the fact that the other person is forbidden. They try to forget about the person, but their feelings are too strong. They distance themself from their own emotions and thoughts, running and hiding from everything they feel. The forbidden city provides a sanctuary where they can let go of their fears and reunite with their love. The singer reaches out to the other person, asking them to break down the walls and come into the forbidden city to be together again, never to be alone again.
Line by Line Meaning
Ich will nich an Dich denken
I don't want to think about you
Will nich wissen, wo du bist
I don't want to know where you are
Ich muss dich vergessen
I have to forget you
Auch wenn das Hölle ist
Even though it's hell
Wir haben uns getroffen
We met each other
Es war leiden auf den ersten Blick
It was suffering at first sight
Ich wusste das darf nich passieren
I knew that shouldn't happen
Sonst gibt es kein zurück
Otherwise there is no going back
Seitdem bin auf der flucht
Since then I am on the run
Von mir selber so weit weggerannt
I have run so far from myself
Und alles was ich fühle
And everything I feel
Hab ich soweit weg verbannt
I have banished it far away
Verbotene Stadt
Forbidden City
Alle Tore sind versperrt und streng bewacht
All gates are locked and strictly guarded
Die Mauern zehn Meter hoch aus Stein
The walls are ten meters high made of stone
Seid vielen Jahren
For many years
Kam kein Mensch hier rein
No one has come here
die Paläste träumen von vergangener Pracht
The palaces dream of past glory
Durch leere Straßen weht ein rauer Wind
A rough wind blows through empty streets
Ein paar Sehnsüchte die längst vergessen sind
A few long-forgotten desires
Nimm den Pfeil aus meinem Herzen
Take the arrow out of my heart
Es darf dir nich gehörn
It shouldn't belong to you
Nimm deinen Mund von meinem Ohr
Take your mouth off my ear
Will keine süßen Schwüre schwörn
Don't want to make any sweet promises
Versuch nich mich zu finden
Don't try to find me
Ruf mich nich mehr an
Don't call me anymore
Wenn ich Deine Nummer wähle
If I dial your number
Dann bitte geh nich ran
Then please don't answer
Verbotene Stadt
Forbidden City
Hier hab ich auf dich gewartet Tag und Nacht
I've been waiting for you day and night here
Nur du kannst mich aus diesem Bann befrein
Only you can free me from this spell
Reiß die Mauern nieder
Tear down the walls
Tret die Türen ein
Kick in the doors
In der verbotenen Stadt
In the forbidden city
Ich will bei dir sein
I want to be with you
Nie mehr allein
Never alone again
Und ich verlier mich in ihrem Labyrinth
And I get lost in its labyrinth
Oh...
Oh...
Contributed by Sadie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.